AHHH...a Mate for those Orphaned Socks

from Elliott
Ever had that experience when you remove your socks from the dryer and begin to pair them and you end up with one without a mate? Then you wrestle with one of the greatest 'life questions' there is - what happened to that missing sock? Did it get sucked out of the dryer vent (but then you go outside to the exit of the dryer vent and you cannot find it) , did it dissolve into a pile of lent or did it just go to sock heaven? Of course, this really is a 'First World Problem' since we do not have a dryer here in South Africa. Perhaps it could be a local problem though if a local Weaver bird thought the sock would make a good nest liner if shredded and stole it from the line.

Regardless of the cause of the demise and the orphan-ing of your favorite sock, there is a solution. Or

at least I thought so while visiting a local shop. They advertised, 'Men's Single Socks' so I walked over to see if they had a replacement mate to a few that I had lost when I was in the US last. I was disappointed to find that there were two socks in each package. But I thought it said 'single' socks. Apparently, Single means 'Single pair' vs 'Multiple Pair'.

Hmmm...how disappointing!  I thought I had found the next 'Great Idea' from the marketing mastermind of the African continent.  

A Nice Day for A Dip!

from Elliott

I was visiting one of our church partners recently and I noticed this above ground pool. It was new so I knew something was up. I wasn't sure though whether it was for a new 'full immersion' baptism strategy, for a new swim team for their church school or just for lounging poolside by the Elders and Deacons. I decided that it was not for lounging since this promontory was often windy and cold. And I don't know any other swim teams in the area that the school could compete against.

I decided not to ask since baptism methodology can be a very sensitive issue and I just did not have the time for that discussion!

Where do I stop?

from Elliott
There used to be a stop sign (on the left side in SA) at this intersection in our town. But one day I was heading out to teach

and it was not there. I guessed it must have been run over the night before but it was nowhere to be found. The car ahead of me just drove right through without stopping. I doubt if it was the first time at the intersection; local folks don't seem to care too much for traffic rules and the absence of the sign was an excuse to move through without a stop.

Then about a week later I saw the sign again but not quite in the same location. In fact, it was about 25 feet before where it used to be a bit further away from the road hiding in the vegetation. I wasn't sure where I should stop now but I did notice the local folks were still just ignoring it.

Upon closer inspection I noticed that it was not planted back in the ground. Instead it was on top of the ground and leaning against the tree that it was tied to. At least it was up right and visible albeit in the wrong location.

At first I thought that a neighbor had put it upright but then I thought if they had taken the initiative to do that they probably would have done so immediately after it came down not waiting a week. Then I though that maybe they reported it and then after waiting a week and getting no response they gave up and did it themselves but nobody would think to give them a week to show up, they would just assume nothing was going to happen. I think the municipality did show up a week later but being ill equipped or unmotivated came up with the rather creative, albeit lazy, method.

Not sure whether to be impressed with the creativity or disgusted with the laziness?!?  It is still there a couple of weeks later so I guess that is the permanent solution.